Stratford city council okays snowmobiles

Neperney to sign application to allow snowmobiles on highways

January 28, 2013

The Stratford city council took up the issue of snowmobiles operating within the city limits at their regular session for January.

The council authorized Mayor Mike Neperney to sign the DOT application from Webster City Snowmobile Club for snowmobiles on state highway 175 within the city limits. The city manager was authorized to create a resolution to approve the proposed snowmobile route on the city's right of ways, noting that this approval does not include crossing over private properties.

Most of the meeting was spent on numerous organizational issues for the new year, including approval of the appointment of councilman Rick Woodard as mayor pro term. Other appointments made were:

Mayor Neperney as representative and city manager Rachel Cahill as alternate to the North Central Iowa Regional Solid Waste Agency.

Cahill as director and council member Julie Ehresmann as alternate representative on Iowa Agency for Municipal Wind Board.

Also at the meeting, budget requests for fiscal year 2014 were received:

Stratford library is requesting a $1,000 increase in their budget request, but their budget also shows that revenues from county and state are higher than last year.

The fire department is requesting an crease of $5,000. Township levies for fire support have also increased.

Upper Des Moines Opportunity budget request of $470 was approved.

In other business, Cahill reviewed the city council action plan with the council. The council voted to remove the goal "adopt zoning" from the action plan.

The council also looked at one new ordinance, approving the first reading and waiving the second and third readings in order to facilitate the new solid waste collection contract beginning January 1, 2013, with the solid waste collection contractor and enact a fee of $25 to temporarily discontinue garbage service, with the ordinance effective on publication.

Cahill presented an overview of the FY14 budget to the council. There will be a budget workshop at 6:00 p.m. before the next regular council meeting on February 11.